System of electric distrsbution



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

T. SPENCER.

SYSTEM 0]? ELECTRIC DISTRIBUTION.

No. 378,738. Patented Feb. 28, 1888.

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(No'ModeL) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. T. SPENCER.

. SYSTEM OI ELECTRIC DISTRIBUTION.

Patented Feb. 28', 1888.

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PATENT THOMAS SPENCER, OF WESTBR OOK, CONNECTICUT.

SYSTEM OF ELECTRIC DISTRIBUTION.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent. No. 378,738, dated February 28, 1888.

Application filed August 13, 1887. Serial No. 246.875).

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, THOMAS SPENCER, a citizen of the United States, residing atWestbrook, in the county of Middlesex and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Systems of Electric Distribution, of which the followingis a specification.

In electric-light systems now in use, and particularly in those employing the Edison threewire system, it is the custom to connect the 1ight-n1ains at different points to a number of conductors called feeders, led from the central station, for the purpose of maintaining the electro motive force constant on the main. Such an arrangement would be effectual if the feeders always carried the current for which they are calculated. where the consumer is enabled to cut in or out his own lamp at will avarying number of lamps are'in circuit, and the consequent variation of resistance of the main renders it necessary to use some equalizing device, so that each feeder will carry the proper current. For this purpose, ordinarily, rheost-ats, called in this connection feeder regulators or equalizers, are employed, placed in the feeders at the station. Such equalizers, however, require constant watching and care to perform their service, and my improvement relates to a system of distribution wherein such equalizers are done away with.

My improvement consists in the combination, with such a system of mains having a plurality offeeding-points, ofone or more Wires connecting the mains at the feedingpoints independent of the feeders and not employed to tap lights from.

My invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings,in which- Figure I represents diagrammatically an electric-light system as customarily arranged. Fig. II is a similar view showing my improvement. Fig. III is a similar view of a modified form of the latter.

Referring to Fig. I, it will be seen that the In systems, however,-

(No model.)

light-mains 00 are arranged in the form of a net-work, supplied with current by feeders y.

from dynamos c at the central station. The feeders are connected to the main at a a a, and are provided with rheostats e c, &C., for the purpose stated.

In Fig. II, illustrating my system, the rheostats are omitted, and the feeding-points a a a are connected by wires A of low resistance. The form shown in. Fig. III is somewhat like that of Fig. II; but as it is not necessary for all the feeders to run to the central station I here show a simple set of wires, 1), running from the station and supplying all the feeders.

, It will be seen that with either of the arrangements shown in Figs. II and III, should any feeder have any different electro-motive.

force from the others, a current is immediately set up in the wires A, called by me equalizers, and the electro-motive force is at once equalized at the feeding-points.

It is plain that, although I have here shown my invention applied to an Edison three-wire system, it is equally applicable to higher orders of compensating systems or to simplesystems using but two wires.

Having thus described my invention, the following is what I claim as new therein and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In a system of electric distribution, the combination, with mains having a plurality of feedingpoints and feeders, of low-resistance equalizi ng-conductors independent ofthe feedmains, and equalizirig-conductors independent of the feeders and connecting the mains at the feeding-points, substantially as set forth.

THOMAS SPENCER.

Witnesses:

FRANK S. MARK, NORMAN IiIABSHA LL. 

